Machine for making shoes



Dec. 14, 1954 w. A. GROSSMAN 2,696,622

MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOES Filed Feb 2, 1953 a Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.\A/// L/A/ AQRU EMAN ATTORNEY Dec. 14, 1954 w. A. GROSSMAN 2,696,622

MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOES Filed Feb. 2, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 11 VIII"...zi-

PI !j 10 INVENTOR.

WILL /AM A. EROS EMA/\l 1 2T TORNEY 1954 w. A. GROSSMAN MACHINE FORMAKING SHOES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2, 1955 INVENTOR. EQUQJ-MANW/LL/A/V/ A.

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 2,696,622 Patented Dec. 14, 1954MACHINE FOR MAKING SHOES William A. Grossman, Reading, Pa., assignor offifty per cent to Leroy J. Harbach, Reading, Pa.

Application February 2, 1953, Serial No. 334,638 Claims. (Cl. 127.3)

This invention relates to the manufacture of boots and shoes, and hasparticular reference to a machine for lasting pre -welted shoes, thatis, shoes in the manufacture of Wl'llCl'l a welt is stitched to themargin of the upper before the upper is lasted.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication Serial Number 76,815 filed February 16, 1949, entitledMachine for Making Prewelt Shoes, now Patent No. 2,679,058.

In many conventional types of lasting machines, one or more clampingplates are used to tightly embrace the upper while the sole is attachedthereto. An outstanding disadvantage of such clamping plates is thatthey are usually cumbersome and complicated in construction.Furthermore, they are generally adaptable for lasting only one size ofshoe, and when a different size of shoe is to be lasted, the clamps mustbe changed and considerable difficulty and time is consumed for thechange-over, therefore adding considerably to the cost of manufacture.Additionally, a high degree of skill is required of the operator, suchas in setting up the machine and in the control of the proper degree ofclamping pressure to be applied for the lasting operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel lasting machinefor shoes, particularly pre-welted shoes, which is devoid of the abovenamed disadvantages of common types of machines.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a shoe lastingmachine having toe-forming and heel-forming plates which are simple andinexpensive in construction and which provide a very useful flat andfirm support for the welt to permit hammering of the sole when it isprovided with the usual cement and laid in position, extending over thewelt.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a shoe lastingmachine, forming plate means which are quickly replaceable toaccommodate different sizes of shoes'and which, even withoutreplacement, will accommodate shoes of slightly different sizes within agiven range.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide a relativelysimple and inexpensive shoe lasting machine having a horseshoe-shapedheel and shank forming plate of spring material for accommodatingdifferent heel sizes and a cooperable toe-forming and welt-supportingplate which is readily reversible or replaceable to accommodate right orleft shoes or shoes of different sizes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a study of thefollowing specification when considered in COIIJUHCtlOIl with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a shoe or lasting means involving theprinciples of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken substantially alongline IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view looking from the right hand end asviewed in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the heel-and-shank-forming plate shown in Figs.1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the toe-forming plate shown in Figs. 1 and2;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a wire used for pulling the shoe toward thelast;

Figs. 7a, 7b and 70 show the toe-forming plate, last mounted shoe, andheel-and-shank forming plate in associated relationship to more clearlyshow their interfitting and co-operative relationship;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIVIII ofFig. 7b;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line IXIX of Fig.7b;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view which is the same as Fig. 8except that the wire loop is withdrawn and the toe-forming plate 11 isin engagement, and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable heel lock andsupport member.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, numeral1 denotes a base having rigidly mounted thereon a last stand 2 whichsupports a post 3, the top end of which fits into a socket of a shoelast 4.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 8, the shoe upper 5 has a welt 6 stitchedonto its outer edge which is pulled over the last 4 by pincers. A corkfiller 7 is cemented to an insole 8 laid on the last. If desired,however, the insole 8 may be omitted.

One of the novel features of the invention resides in the specificconstruction of heel-and-shank-forming plate 9 shown in Fig. 4 having aflat, horizontal ledge portion 9a shaped in accordance with the contourof the heel and shank portions of the shoe so as to snugly embrace them,and a vertically extending flange portion 9b which is spaced from theshoe upper or last. The heel-and-shank forming plate 9 is thus shapedlike a horseshoe and is made of spring metal so that it will be somewhatexpansible so as to accommodate slightly different sizes of heels. Earsor knob-like projections 90, may be provided to serve as handles formanually grasping and pulling the plate away from the shoe after theheel and shank are formed. Spring fingers 9d are bolted to threadedstuds extending inwardly of projections 90, 9c under ledge portion 9a soas to frictionally embrace the heel and shank portion of the shoe asplate 9 is slipped thereon. Projections 9c, 90 may be omitted, ifdesired.

A toe-forming and welt bracing plate 11 is reciprocably mounted so as tobe movable towards or away from the toe portion of the shoe or last.Plate 11 is slidably mounted in grooves at the top of a reciprocablestand or carriage 13. The bottom of carriage 13 has outstanding flangeswhich slidably engage track portions 14 rigidly mounted on base 1.Springs 15, 15 are provided for normally urging the stand and plate 11to the toe-engaging position. One end of each spring is secured to acrossbar 16, fixed to the carriage 13, and the other end is secured to apost 17 fixed on base 1.

One end of a manually operable lever 12 is pivotally mounted on asupport 18 fixed to base 1. A link 21 connects lever 12 to carriage 13.Thus, manual movement of lever 12 from the full to the dotted lineposition in Fig. 1 will move the carriage to the left and will tensionsprings 15. Release of the lever will allow springs 15 to returncarriage l3 and its plate 11 to the toe engaging position.

Plate 11 may have two different cut-out portions representing the toeportions of right and left shoes. By reversing the plate 11 on carriage13, the respective cutout portions may be selectively engaged with thetoe portion of a right or left shoe being lasted or, if desired, the cutout portions may be of different sizes for making diferent sizes ofshoes. The cut-out portions preferably have knife edges that readilyextend into the crease between the welt and upper.

In operation, when the last is slipped into the prewelted upper andsupported on the post 3, the heel and shank forming plate 9 is pushedinto embracing engagement with the heel and shank portions of the shoe,as shown more clearly in Fig. 9 thereby allowing the welt to lie flat onledge portion 9a which forms a flat, firm rest therefor. At this timelever 12 is in the dotted line position and plate 11 is in the retractedposition with respect to the toe portion of the shoe. It will beparticularly noted that no force or pressure is applied to plate 9, andno lock or catch is needed to hold it in position.

After the quarter part of the shoe is formed and while plate 11 is stillin the retracted position relative the toe portion of the last or upper,a loop of wire 10 is slipped between the welt and upper end the toeportion thereof is pulled toward the last and against the margin of corkinsole 7 as shown in Fig. 7b. Loop 10 may be pulled by a strap operatedby a treadle (not shown) in a conventional manner.

Lever 12 is then lifted and unlocked from its catch or notch 25. Plate11 is thus released, allowing springs 15- to draw and hold it firmly inplace against the toe of the upper and close to plate 9 so as to formthe toe portion. of the shoe and to provide a firm, fiat support for theentire welt, while the upper is lasted. The sole or mid-sole is thencemented to the upper and pounded fast. A vertical partition 13a whichis integrally supported on base 1 and which has a cut out portionsurrounding link 21 serves as a brace or support for plate 11 duringsuch pounding.

Figure 11 shows an adjustable heel lock assembly comprising asubstantially channel shaped pivotal support 27 of sheet metal, havingan integral channel portion 28 provided with registering holes 29through which a pivot bolt may extend, which pivot bolt is secured tothe base 12. Thus the entire assembly may be pivoted about the verticalaxis of the pivot bolt through an angle of 90 degrees so as toselectively move the heel supporting member or lock 30 either intosupporting position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or away from saidposition in substantially right angular relationship. The operator mayuse a hammer for so pivoting support 27. The heel lock. element 30 issubstantially L-shaped and rests on the top edge of the rear cover plate(not shown) of support 27 A portion of plate 9 is shown in dotted lines,a portion 30b is adapted to form a rest for the heel-and-shank formingplate 9, and a flanged portion 3% forms a lateral stop or abutment forsuch plate. On the left wall portion of. support 27 (not shown) asviewed in Figure 11, there is rigidly mounted a stud having a threadedend portion 31 projecting through a vertical slot in portion 300 andonto which is screwed a wing nut 34. Upon tightening of the, wing nut awasher 32 and collar 33 are pushed inwardly so as to push portion 390 ofthe heel lock to the left, therefore in closer engagement with plate 9.A vertical adjustment of heel lock element 30 is provided by turning ascrew threaded stud or stop 35 and locking it with nut 36 which stopwill limit raising of the adjustable heel lock element 30. Stud 35 isscrew threaded to and projects below the top portion of support 27 so asto bear against the top of heel lock 30 and the latter pivotally restson the left wall portion of support 27 (not shown). Thus, portion 30b isadjusted somewhat along an arcuate path. Once the proper height andcloseness of portions 30a and 30b are obtained no further adjustmentneed be made and the heel lock element is merely pivotally moved into orout of engagement with plate 9 as desired. It will be noted that theheel lock element 30 will provide a firm support for the heel-and-shankforming plate 9 so that when the sole is pounded, a rigid support willbe provided. Latch 39 mounted on the base will hold down the heel lockby hearing against the base plate at the bottom of support 27. Thetoe-forming plate 11 is then withdrawn from the upper by moving lever 12from the full to the dotted line position of Fig. 1 against the actionof springs 15 and the lever may be again locked in the latter positionby dropping it behind a notch formed at the end of a side plate 19. Thewire loop 10 is then removed. The heel-and-shank-forming plate 9 is thenretracted from the lasted quarter of the shoe. llate 11 is thusretracted and the completed shoe is removed from the last. It will beparticularly noted that there is no external pressure applied to theplate 11 for lasting the fore part of the shoe, also that the fore partis formed somewhat independently of the heel and shank portion. Thus anysmall non alignment between the two will be unnoticeable and will notresult in out of line welt marking, ripples or other imperfect markingof the shoe.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an efficient shoe lastingmachine which greatly simplifies the prewelt lasting operation,eliminates the necessity of an experienced laster, and avoids the needof elevation adjusting mechanisms and similar adjusting means which arecommonly required; furthermore, I have provided novel and useful toe,heel and shank forming plates which are simple in design and provide afirm support for the entire welt so as to permit pounding of the soleand attachment thereof to the upper, which plates are of a constructionso as to accommodate dilferent sizes of shoes within a given size range(or left and right shoes) and which are mounted so as to be readilyreplaced by other plates for substantially differently sized shoeswithout the necessity of tightening nuts, bolts or the like.

While I have illustrated and described a certain specific embodiment ofmy invention, it will be apparent that this is by way of illustrationonly, and that various changes and modifications may be made within thecontemplation of my invention and within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A shoe making machine comprising aone piece reciprocably mounted flatplate having an arcuate cutout portion for snugly surrounding the toeportion of, a shoe, a substantially horse shoe shaped member for snuglysurrounding the remaining heel portion of the shoe and including springclips for yieldingly grasping said heel portion, and a heel lock memberpivotally mounted on a vertical axis so as to be selectively movableinto position to directly support and form an end stop for said horseshoe shaped member, or out of said position to permit withdrawal of saidhorseshoe shaped member.

2. A shoe making machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said heel lockmember includes a horizontal supporting flange, and a vertical flangeserving as a lateral stop for said horse shoe shaped member, and meansfor limiting the height of said horizontal supporting flange. and foradjusting the horizontal position of said vertical flange.

3. In a shoe making machine, a base having a shoe last stand rigidlysecured thereto, a carriage slidably mounted on said base for horizontalmovement toward and away from said stand, a one-piece toe forming platedetachably mounted on said carriage, spring means for normally urgingsaid carriage and plate'into toe engaging relationship with a toeportion of a shoe mounted on said last stand, a lever pivotally mountedon said base for retracting said carriage against the action of Saidspring means, latch means for holding said lever in the retractedposition, a substantially U-shaped heel-and-shank forming plateincluding a resilient portion for snugly embracing the heel-and-shankportion of the shoe, together with said toe forming plate forming acontinuous support for the entire periphery of a welt attached to themarginal portion of the shoe upper to facilitate pounding and attachmentof a sole to the upper, and a heel lock pivotally mounted on a verticalaxis extending from said base and selectively movable into and out ofsupporting engagement with said heel-and-shank forming plate to providea rigid support therefor during said pounding.

4. A shoe making machine as recited in claim 3 wherein said heel lockincludes adjustable means for adjustably limiting the height thereof,and includes a substantially vertical flanged portion adjustablehorizontally to serve as a lateral stop for the heel of the shoe.

5. A shoe making machine as recited in claim 3 wherein said heel lockcomprises an assembly including a heel lock element having a horizontalflanged portion for directly supporting said heel-and-shank formingplate and having a vertical flanged portion to serve as a lateral stopfor the heel of the shoe, and including a downwardly extending flangedportion extending into said assembly, and adjustably limiting means foradjusting the vertical position of said horizontal flanged portion andthe hori- I zontal position of said vertical flanged portion.

No references cited.

